Cultural sensitivity and related factors among community health nurses.

BACKGROUND

Community health nurses are on the frontline of providing healthcare to multiethnic groups. Managing and providing effective, culture-specific healthcare can increase the health quality of Taiwan's recently immigrant women, a significant component of this country's population.

PURPOSE

This study analyzes the cultural sensitivity of community health nurses and related factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was applied in this study. Participants were nurses who work at health centers in Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County. A total of 230 valid questionnaires were completed. Structure questionnaires used in this study included (a) scale of nurses' cultural sensitivity, (b) scale of multicultural sources, (c) scale of multicultural competence training programs, and (d) table of personal characteristics. Statistical software SPSS 14.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Survey results show an average score of community health nurse cultural sensitivity of 49.41 (SD = 7.48). The index score was 65.88. Thus, survey participants in this study earned a cultural sensitivity score below the index score. "Interaction confidence" earned the lowest item score. "Multicultural resources," "self-perceived English proficiency," "multicultural competence training programs," and "having friends with different cultural backgrounds" were significant predictor variables of cultural sensitivity and, together, explained 34.9% of total variance.

CONCLUSIONS

Study results may be referenced in designing future in-service and cultural care education programs for community health nurses to improve healthcare quality for new immigrants.